To: Scott County Business Leaders From: Edward Rivers, Director, Scott County Health Department Nita Ludwig, Administrator, Rock Island County Health Department
The Quad Cities are seeing sustained transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19 despite a wealth of evidence that masking, social distancing and other simple interventions are highly effective in reducing spread. State and local governments have been reluctant to support mandates for the use of masks, but you are free to do so on private property.
Consider requiring masks on your premises.
The data emerging on the value of masks to prevent COVID are clear now. Masks on both infected and uninfected people markedly reduce the risk for the uninfected person becoming infected.
Why should you require masks on (both) your staff and customers?
To protect your clients and customers from infection and its outcomes
To protect their contacts from infection
To reduce transmission and protect the economy from the effects of the sustained community spread present since June in the metro area
To support our ability to return kids to face-to-face learning that is more effective education
To free parents to return to work
To reduce the negative effects of prolonged social isolation of both school aged kids and adults
To help establish compliance with consensus public health measures as the norm in the QC metro area
What should you do?
Post signage prominently that you are asking all people entering your premises to mask. including promoting your business as being COVID-conscious for your community.
Provide masks for those arriving without them
Provide similar information on your websites and in your social media messages including promoting your business as being COVID-conscious for your community.
Avoid confrontations with those who refuse to mask but be confident that most people will comply with your request and that as time passes and masking becomes the norm, compliance will be maintained.
In bars and restaurants, public health’s social distancing (separation of people from each other) guidance remains critical because use of masks at all times is difficult.